China posing a worry to World Cup bidders
By Michael Casey |
July 25, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE four Asian countries bidding to host the 2022 World Cup have enough to be concerned about with demands for stadiums, hotels and transport networks and strong contenders from other confederations. Now, they have to worry about China.
China's Football Association has signaled it may bid for the World Cup in 2026, raising speculation that such a move could undermine the hopes of Japan, South Korea, Qatar and even Australia, which are all in the running to host the 2022 tournament.
The winning bids for 2018 and 2022 will be announced on December 2, with a European country expected to be chosen for the earlier of those. The emergence of China as a contender for 2026 could work in favor of the United States bid for 2022.
"If China throws its hat in for 2026, it blows everything wide open for 2022 because in many ways China is arguably the last great footballing frontier," said Simon Chadwick, a sports marketing expert at England's Coventry University.
"From the Chinese government's perspective, bidding for the World Cup is an important thing," he said. "From FIFA's perspective, there is considerable appeal in China bidding for 2026 because I think it's a very important marketplace. I would argue China is much more important marketplace than the US was in 1994."
Irresistible trend
CFA head Wei Di first hinted at a bid last week after returning from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, telling the country's leading sports newspaper, Titan Sports, that China has the venues and the rail network needed to host a big event -- something he communicated to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
"Mr Blatter told me China is becoming more and more influential and it's an irresistible trend that China will finally host a World Cup," Wei said.
He also came out in favor of the United States winning the 2022 bid and took aim at Qatar, over fears that an Asian winner would jeopardize China's chances in 2026.
FIFA rules dictate that no continent can host the World Cup twice in a row.
"Qatar is so hot. Even though the country is rich enough to build venues with air conditioning systems. But what's the population of that country? How can they fill their venues with people?" Wei told the newspaper.
"I'd rather hope US could win the bid, which means we'll have higher chance of success bidding for 2026," Wei was quoted as saying. "If FIFA decided to let an Asian country host the 2022 World Cup, then China will have to wait at least until 2030."
Reaction from the four bidders to the Chinese threat has been mostly mixed, with only Japan acknowledging a Chinese bid poses challenges.
Motoaki Inukai, president of the Japan Football Association, said: "For FIFA, China is definitely important when it comes to the development of football."
China's Football Association has signaled it may bid for the World Cup in 2026, raising speculation that such a move could undermine the hopes of Japan, South Korea, Qatar and even Australia, which are all in the running to host the 2022 tournament.
The winning bids for 2018 and 2022 will be announced on December 2, with a European country expected to be chosen for the earlier of those. The emergence of China as a contender for 2026 could work in favor of the United States bid for 2022.
"If China throws its hat in for 2026, it blows everything wide open for 2022 because in many ways China is arguably the last great footballing frontier," said Simon Chadwick, a sports marketing expert at England's Coventry University.
"From the Chinese government's perspective, bidding for the World Cup is an important thing," he said. "From FIFA's perspective, there is considerable appeal in China bidding for 2026 because I think it's a very important marketplace. I would argue China is much more important marketplace than the US was in 1994."
Irresistible trend
CFA head Wei Di first hinted at a bid last week after returning from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, telling the country's leading sports newspaper, Titan Sports, that China has the venues and the rail network needed to host a big event -- something he communicated to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
"Mr Blatter told me China is becoming more and more influential and it's an irresistible trend that China will finally host a World Cup," Wei said.
He also came out in favor of the United States winning the 2022 bid and took aim at Qatar, over fears that an Asian winner would jeopardize China's chances in 2026.
FIFA rules dictate that no continent can host the World Cup twice in a row.
"Qatar is so hot. Even though the country is rich enough to build venues with air conditioning systems. But what's the population of that country? How can they fill their venues with people?" Wei told the newspaper.
"I'd rather hope US could win the bid, which means we'll have higher chance of success bidding for 2026," Wei was quoted as saying. "If FIFA decided to let an Asian country host the 2022 World Cup, then China will have to wait at least until 2030."
Reaction from the four bidders to the Chinese threat has been mostly mixed, with only Japan acknowledging a Chinese bid poses challenges.
Motoaki Inukai, president of the Japan Football Association, said: "For FIFA, China is definitely important when it comes to the development of football."
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